The renowned Naka Cave in Bueng Kan province, celebrated for its serpent-like rock formation, has reopened to the public after a one-month closure for natural rehabilitation. The cave, located within Phu Langka National Park, began welcoming tourists again on Saturday (June 2), with an admission limit set to 1,000 visitors per day to preserve its natural environment.
To manage the influx of visitors, the park office has allocated 700 spots for walk-in tourists and 300 for those who book in advance through an app. Efforts are underway to potentially increase this quota, contingent upon the training of additional guides and staff to ensure a sustainable tourism experience.
In celebration of the cave’s reopening, the Udon Thani Tourism Office, in partnership with the Bueng Kan Tourism Office and the Tourism Council for the Northeast, gave out special wrist straps to the first 100 visitors. The gesture is part of an effort to enhance tourism at the cave, which is recognized for its geological significance and cultural importance.
Geologically, the Naka Cave features striking rock formations shaped by the Earth’s physical processes, including temperature fluctuations that cause decay and create distinctive sun cracks on the rock surface. These natural features contribute to the cave’s appearance, resembling the scales of a giant serpent, which many locals believe to be linked to the sacred naga, a mythical serpent revered in regional folklore. (NNT)
